LONDON: A new film festival in the UK is on a mission to explore Muslim experiences through film.
The inaugural Muslim International Film Festival will begin on May 30 in London’s Leicester Square.
The four-day event features narratives from international Muslim filmmakers as well as productions inspired by Muslim culture and faith.
“The idea behind the festival is about reclaiming our identity and celebrating it. For the longest time, being Muslim has felt like something we can’t be proud of,” MIFF director Sajid Varda told Arabian Weekly.
He added: “We’ve had to hide our identity, and the narrative around our faith and identities has often been controlled by others.
“There’s been a persistent frustration with how to change those perceptions and how to reconnect with wider audiences and communities.
“We want to give them a glimpse into our lives and lived experiences, while also showcasing the cinematic brilliance of our creative community and its contributions to cinema.”
The event will begin with the London premiere of “Hounds” (“Les Meutes”) by Moroccan director Kamal Lazraq. The film follows a father and son in Casablanca’s suburbs who make ends meet by committing petty crimes for a local mob until a kidnapping goes horribly wrong.
Other highlights include critically acclaimed films set in the UK, France, Turkiye, Tunisia, Jordan, Iran and Sudan.
The festival will include Q&A sessions, panels and networking events in partnership with the British Film Commission, Netflix and the BBC.
Organizers have made the festival as accessible as possible to wider audiences, Varda said.
“We wanted to ensure that the films align with our faith and ethos, avoiding gratuitous violence, nudity and overtly sexual themes. This makes the content accessible to all, not just Muslims, but also people of other faiths and beliefs who might be sensitive to these issues.”
He added: “Our ticket costs are much lower compared to other festivals. We’ve also given out many tickets at no cost to various organizations, and offered discounts to students and those facing financial hardship.”